XII INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS 



Forester Day in Warwick, Oct. 23, iqzo 



From the Warwick Valley Dispatch of October 27th, 1920. 



Well, was it great? Forester Day in Warwick Village, 

 throughout the whole twenty-four bright hours which went to 

 make up October 23, 1920, during which it was celebrated? Yes, 

 we'll all say so. It was great, and the greatest thing among a 

 galaxy of wonderful things was the hospitable Warwick spirit, 

 animating every heart and shining in each face. 



It is Warwick's pride and boast that Forester was happy within 

 her valley bounds, as, apparently, nowhere else. He understood 

 her people as he understood her contours, her fields and woods, 

 streams and coverts, and they understood him and reciprocated 

 his admiration. He, whenever he came, became for the nonce a 

 denizen, gave himself up to the mood for enjoyment which the 

 sight of it prompted, and passed at once into a sort of heaven akin 

 to the Indian's "happy hunting ground." Gentle and simple. 

 Forester met each in character, and the humblest mountaineer 

 and field-beater was his friend and admirer, as well as the owner 

 of the mansions where he sat equal with equals, and where today 

 his memory is fondly and earnestly cherished for the souvenirs 

 left behind as well as the remembrances of his unusual personality. 



Forester Day dawned golden and clear, and even in far-off 

 windows anxious eyes scanned the heavens at earliest dawn, to 

 note what they presaged. The outlook was highly favorable, 

 and soon, from city stations, garage, carriage house and farm- 

 yard the throng set out, garbed for the occasion. A motley 

 assemblage it was, but oh! such colorful, joyous motley! Elders 

 and youngsters with one accord soon filled the square which is now 

 ornamented by the Forester Memorial. Just beyond stands the 

 Wawayanda House, the home of master-host, Tom Draw (Ward), 

 and near by "the red brick pride of the village, " and "the house 

 under the locusts" (Shingle House), all mentioned in his first 

 account of his visit thither with Archer, his hunting chum. 

 None of them are much changed. The surroundings, though, 

 are more congested now, as Warwick has grown, and buildings 

 stand where he saw only clear spaces. But these only served to 

 house more of the throng who met there to celebrate the memory 

 of the sportsman-author and hero of the day. 



• 



A returned native and seldom visitor, who writes this, is not 

 very well up on names and faces, save those long known and 

 loved, so names will be avoided rather than multiplied in this 

 sketch, but it may be said that there was no one there unworthy of 

 notice. Some perforce must stand forth to make a story, but all 

 deserved praise. 



